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BHP Billiton CEO steps down

Marius Kloppers, the CEO of BHP Billiton, is stepping down as the company reports its biggest fall in half-yearly profit, and hands over control to Andrew Mackenzie.

Transcript

TONY JONES, PRESENTER: The chief executive of the world's largest mining company, BHP Billiton, has resigned after six years at the helm.

Marius Kloppers is stepping down weeks after rival Rio Tinto sacked its boss, but BHP's top brass is going to great lengths to portray an amicable split.

BHP says he leaves behind a stronger, safer and better company, a legacy Mr Kloppers puts down to a team effort.

MARIS KLOPPERS, OUTGOING BHP BILLITON CEO: Please let me not overstate my own contribution in that story. I think that we have had... we've got a company that's over 150 years old. In the last 10 years and in the last five years in particular we've achieved some great things.

TONY JONES: His departure comes as BHP reported its biggest fall in half yearly profit in more than a decade.

Andrew Mackenzie, who has been running BHP's metals business, has been named as his successor.

And you can see the full interview with Marius Kloppers and Andrew Mackenzie on The Business, straight after Lateline.